Guide rail construction for discharging tipped jars



June 26, 1962 R. F. KRUPP ET AL GUIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR DISCHARGING TIPPED JARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1960 hnm Ev wmm 6v mm hnn mnm INVENTORS Robert F. Krupp y Jan K. Wagner mnn mun

June 26, 1962 Filed April 21, 1960 R. F. KRUPP ET AL 3,040,875

GUIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR DISCHARGING TIPPED JARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Robert E Krupp BY Jan K. Wagner- June 26, 1962 KRUPP ETAL 3,040,875

GUIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR DISCHARGING TIPPED JARS Filed April 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4.

7 2/ N i N i INVENTORS Robert F. Krupp BY Jan K. Wagner ZT/MW June 26, 1962 R. F- KRUPP ETA]. 3,040,875

GUIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR DISCHARGING TIPPED JARS Filed April 21, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 7.

I" 63 22m WIIJVI'IIIIII:

INVENTORS Robert F. Krupp y Jan K. Wagner IWMW United States Patent O n 3,040,875 GUIDE RAIL CONSTRUCTION FOR DISCHARGING TiPPED JARS Robert F. Krupp and Jan K. Wagner, Oakland, Calif.,

asslguors to Gerber Products Company, Fremont,

Miclh, a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 23,800 4 Claims. (Cl. 198-232) This invention relates to a new and improved guide rail construction for machines conveying objects such as glass containers and wherein danger to the machine and danger to the consumer from contamination of containers with broken glass is a serious consideration. One such machine is illustrated and described in application Serial No. 715,960, filed Feb. 18, 1958, for Machine for AI- ranging Glass Jars, of which this application is a continuation-in-part.

The present machine provides pivoted guide rail sections which pivot out of normal position to permit correction or removal of tipped or misshapen containers. Pivotal movement of the guide rail section operates a switch which shuts off the machine until the condition causing displacement of the rail has been remedied.

One important feature of the invention is the provision of means which prevents entry of a tipped jar into the filling line. Converging guide rails are provided to move the jars laterally forwardly of the machine, and one section of the converging guide rail is pivotally mounted. Opposite the pivoted section is a rotary turret which is driven in timed relation to the progress of the jars through the machine. The turret is formed with pockets which are shaped to receive a jar in upright position but are not large enough to receive a tipped jar. Preferably the pockets are lined with a resilient material to prevent damage to the jars. If the jars are upright, they are passed through the pockets of the turret without interference. However, if the jar is tipped it does not enter the pocket and exerts an outward pressure on the pivoted section of the guide rail. The pivoted section of the guide rail is so supported that its outward movement switches a microswitch which stops the line before the tipped jar can enter the filler. The tipped jar can then be set upright or re moved and thus eliminates the danger that it may enter the filler machine and be crushed, thereby probably contaminating a whole series of jars. At the same time it may be possible to determine and remedy the condition causing the tipped jar.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partially schematic, of a machine for arranging glass jars in which the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of another portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

needless duplication of description of parts, reference is made to that application for an explanation of this invention as specifically applied to a machine for arranging glass jars, and especially for moving a pattern of jars oif a platen and into carriers on either side of the machine (for the purpose of washing the jars) and then converging the jars into single file.

Disposed centrally of the machine is a plurality of platens 366 which are advanced along the machine by chain 376 driven in timed relationship to the rest of the machine. As a load of jars is discharged from an unloader such as that shown in Patent No. 2,818,987, it is deposited on a platen 366. Alongside the path of the platens are carriers 396 which are advanced by a second set of chains (not shown) at a different speed from the platens. Carriers 396 are shown in Patent No. 2,826,- 207, and an improvement thereon is the subject of pending application Serial No. 639,523, filed Feb. 5, 1957, now Patent No. 2,943,727 for Carrier for Glass Jar Handling Machine. Depending from the superstructure 21 of the washer-single-filer are switch elements 437, 438, 439 which extend into the path of travel of the platen and engage rows of jars and move them off the platens and. into pockets in the carriers 396. In the carriers the jars are carried around the lower stretch of travel and washed and ultimately drained and then moved by switches 459 to outside conveyors 461 and thence into the converging station.

Each carrier 396 consists of a base 411 and vertical plates 412 on either side which are spaced apart slightly greater than the width of a jar. If by accident a jar should be tipped before it enters the carrier, the pressure of the switch 437, 438, 439 in attempting to push the jar into the space between the two plates 412 which is insufficient to accommodate the tipped jar will cause the jar to break and may contaminate the surrounding jars with broken glass fragments. Even if the jar does not shatter, nevertheless, serious damage may occur to the carriers or to the switch.

Accordingly, it is a feature of the present invention to provide means to prevent jar breakage or damage to the carrier when a tipped or misshapen jar situation occurs. For such purpose, any one or more or all of the switches 437, 438, 439 is made of three sections, namely two permanent sections 22 and 22a at each end of a pivoted section 23. Section 22 is rigidly supported to superstructure 21 by leg 21a. Section 22a is rigidly supported to superstructure 21 by pivot supporting member 240. Section 22a must be rigidly located in order to eliminate any tendency for the extended point 22b to swing and cause either a crushing action or undue displacement of jars behind the tipped or misshapen jar. The pivoted section 23 is suspended above the level of the path of the platens 366 from the superstructure 21 of the washer-single-filer by means of pivot rod 24 pivotally mounted in pivot support member 24a. The end of the movable switch portion 23 opposite the pivot rod 24 carries upwardly extending leg 26 which at its upper end has a horizontal extension 27 which slides over a horizontal plate 28 on the superstructure. When a tipped or misshapen jar is interposed between the shifting rail section 23 and a carrier 396, the shifting rail 23 is forced inwardly, pivoting around pivot rod 24 and this causes extension 27 to slide on plate 28. Extension 27 carries an upwardly peaked section 31 which in the normal (closed) position of the machine elevates roller 32 of microswitch 33 to close the same. When extension 27 slides inwardly, however, the switch 33 opens and breaks the electric circuit which drives the machine, and the machine is stopped until the tipped or misshapened jar is set upright of removed from 3 the machine-and shifting arm 23 is manually reset to the running position.

The effect of the pressure of switch 33 is to hold the pivoted section 23 closed unless an abnormal condition forces the peaked section 31 out from under switch roller 32.

Each of the various shifter members 437, 438, 439 may be similarly constructed of pivoted and stationary sections. For simplicity of explanation and illustration, however, only one such structure is shown. The adaptation of all such rails in accordance with this invention will readily occur to one skilled in the art.

As is also illustrated and described in patent application Serial No. 715,960, after the jars have been washed and drained they are shifted out of the carriers 3% by shifter bars 459 onto outer conveyors 461i and thence by converging shifter bars 491 onto intermediate carriers 471 and thence onto inner carriers 476 and finally onto the final carrier 477. All of the conveyors move at different speeds, except that the final conveyor 477 moves at the same speed as the inner conveyors 476. From the final conveyor 477 the jars are directed into a filler (not shown) where they are filled and ultimately capped and processed. To prevent the entry of a tipped jar into the filler in the event that a jar has become tipped in traveling from the carrier 396 to the central conveyor 477, provision is made to detect a tipped jar and safely stop the machine until the tipped jar is set upright or removed from the machine.

Thus, along one of the rails 493 is located a movable section 41 which is suspended from above by pivot bar 42 at its rearward end. The forward end of the shifting section is formed with an ofiset 43 which interfits with rail 493 to provide a smooth, continuous guide.

On superstructure 21 is a horizontal plate 46 through which rod 42 passes, and slidable over plate 46 is an arm 47 fixed to rod 42 and having a bevelled outer end 48. Bracket 49 on plate 46 pivotally supports arm 51 having roller 52 at its outer end in contact with end 48. Roller 52 tends to hold arm 47, and hence section 41, in normal, longitudinally extending position. However, if section 41 is swung out of position by reason of a tipped jar travelling on conveyor 477, arm 51 breaks contact with switch 53, thereby stopping the machine.

Depending from superstructure 21 is a vertical, transverse plate 56. Mounted on plate 56 is a horizontal, transverse shaft 57 which is driven by means of sprocket 58 and chain 59 from one of the various shafts of the machine so that shaft 57 turns in timed relation to movement of conveyor 477.

At one end of shaft 57 is a right-angle drive 62, the details of which form no part of the present invention, which drives vertical shaft 63.

Located on the opposite side of rail section 41 is a gap 66 to which is positioned a rotatable turret 67 having rubber pockets 68 which are shaped to accommodate an upright jar but which do not accommodate a tipped jar. Turret 67 is rotated by means of shaft 63 in timed relation to the operation of the machine. Beveled spacer 69 on section 41 accurately determines the spaces for one normal jar. Normally positioned jars fit into the pockets 68 as they pass along the rail 41 and. beveled spacer 69, but when a tipped jar occurs it forces rail section 41 outwardly because there is not sufficient clearance to permit its passage. walls of the turret pockets 68 are lined with rubber no damage to the jar occurs. Simultaneously, switch 53 stops the machine before the tipped jar can enter the filler. The tipped jar can then be set upright or removed from the machine.

By reason of the fact that the Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination comprising a conveyor for containers and the like, means along one side of said conveyor having a plurality of receptacles each shaped to receive a container only in upright position, drive means for said last mentioned means and for said conveyor, a guide rail suspended above said conveyor and spaced from said means a distance about equal to the width of a container, said guide rail having a fixed section and a contiguous yieldable section spaced longitudinally along said guide rail, means pivotally mounting said yieldable section for movement from a closed position in which said yieldable section comprises an extension of said fixed section to an open position away from said first mentioned means, a member mounted above said conveyor and movable in a horizontal plane with said yieldable section, said member having at least one beveled surface, a switch, a switch arm arranged to actuate said switch, a roller on said switch arm arranged to contact said beveled surface when said yieldable section is in closed position to bias said member and said yieldable section toward closed position said switch being operable to stop said drive means when said yieldable section is moved away from said first mentioned means by interposition of a tipped or misshapen container between said guide rail and said first mentioned means.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which said first-mentioned means comprises a turret formed with a plurality of pockets, each pocket being shaped to receive a single container in upright position and being lined with resilient material.

3. The combination comprising a conveyor for containers and the like, means along one side of said conveyor having a plurality of receptacles each shaped to receive a container only in upright position, drive means for said last mentioned means and for said conveyor, a guide rail suspended above said conveyor and spaced from said means a distance about equal to the Width of a container, said guide rail having a fixed section and a contiguous yieldable section spaced longitudinally along said guide rail, a vertical rod fixed at its lower end to said yieldable section and supporting said yieldable section, means mounting said rod for pivotal movement, a memher on the upper end of said rod rotatable with said rod and movable in a horizontal plane with said yieldable section, said member having at least one beveled surface, a switch arm arranged to actuate said switch, a roller on said switch arm arranged to contact said beveled surface when said yieldable section is closed and bias said member and said yieldable section toward closed position, said switch being arranged to stop said drive means when said yieldable section is forced away.

4. A combination according to claim 3 which further comprises a stationary horizontal plate over the top of which said member rides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,825,751 Meyer et a1. Oct. 6, 1931 2,013,144 Gladfelter Sept. 3, 1935 2,547,076 Du Bois Apr. 3, 1951 

